Many, many years ago, when the downy fuzz on my teenage face became plentiful enough to warrant the use of a razor, the twin blade razor was an exotic tool. My older brothers (those without full beards) used single blade disposables. My dad used a "safety razor", which came apart and used replaceable blades.

For a while, I was an early adaptor in the razor market. As soon as a new razor with another blade (to shave you closer still) or a lubricating strip swooshed onto the market, I was there to be at the cutting edge, so to speak.

I gave up when they started putting batteries in razors. By that time, razors had become like inkjet printers - a small initial investment for the main equipment, but then the consumables required thereafter cost an absolute fortune. I now use a twin-blade razor I bought in Aldi a couple of years ago, where I can get replacement blades for a couple of €s per pack.


Now, Gillette have released a five-blade razor called the Fusion (Warning: link involves quite a bit of Flash and lots of swooshing.) Dear God, how may more blades will they continue to add? What will our grandsons and great-grandsons use to shave? Fifteen-blade razors?